The White Sox have agreed to a minor-league deal with lefty Hector Santiago, GM Rick Hahn told reporters including Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Santiago would earn at a $2MM rate in the majors, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
It’s a homecoming for Santiago, who’s now thirty years of age. He more than made good on the South Siders’ decision to draft him in the thirtieth round of the 2006 draft, ultimately cracking the majors for the first time with Chicago in 2011. Santiago ended up departing in the memorable three-team deal that landed the Sox Adam Eaton.
The move also lands the rebuilding White Sox another bounceback arm that’ll help deepen the staff. If Santiago throws well in camp, he might conceivably challenge for a rotation spot or — perhaps more likely — earn a long relief role for the coming season.
Santiago has at times produced solid results. Indeed, through the 2015 seasons, he had compiled a 3.55 ERA over 532 2/3 MLB innings. But the peripherals never quite supported that kind of output; for example, Santiago carried a 4.54 FIP to that point.
Since, though, things have fallen apart. Santiago produce a messy 2016 effort, struggling after a mid-season swap from the Angels to the Twins but at least managing to compile 182 frames. He collapsed last year, managing only 70 1/3 innings of 5.63 ERA pitching in a season marred by back and shoulder problems. Santiago coughed up 15 long balls in that span and saw his average fastball velocity drop to 90.8 mph.
Nice pickup. Héctor has a nice screw ball and lively arm. Let’s see if he can make the ML roster at some point.
I like it. There will be plenty of pitchers in early camp to sort thru. I am thinking the Sox will have a better staff this year. Good competition all spring will lead to many good pitchers surprising the rest of the league.
Terrible trade for the twins
Why? They jettisoned Nolasco’s bloated salary and Alex Meyers is out for 2018 and has been pretty meh for LAA in his few starts
Nolasco didn’t miss a start for the Halos, and was just as, maybe even more effective than Santiago. Even trade if it was 1 for 1. But Halos also got Meyers who looked very promising in his outings against the Nats and Dodgers. It’s to bad he’s injured, but the fact that he’s still in the organization and still has potential, I think the Halos came out on top.
Yet Santiago came at a much cheaper rate. Would you rather pay $20M for crappy production or $13M as a small market team? Meyers will be 29, coming off a major surgery, with long standing control struggles. Not exactly anything to be too excited about, considering how badly he got hammered outside of Angel Stadium when he did pitch. The twins also got Busenitz who, at least, looks like he can contribute outta the pen
Alan Busenitz was also involved in the trade and pitched pretty well for the twins down the stretch. Meyers has always had potential but has been injured often. It’s a wash I’d say.
The twins covered the cost difference between the two and are paying for the buyout this year
Twins would’ve done almost anything to get Nolasco out. I was pumped for the trade even though Santiago fell off for MN. Busenitz has s chance to stick around so can’t be too upset here.
Twins only kicked in 4 million, knocking his total from $24M to $20M, and there was no buyout, it was only a four year deal.
Congrats twins fans, you got a good one!
Six fans I mean
Sox…..
3rd time’s a charm
Lol
There’s an edit button for a reason my friend.
Not on the app- at least for me on android.
There’s no editing or up/down voting on the app. Very annoying.
Hector’s wife Carmen must be happy. Congrats!
The offseason of returning to your former team continues. This has got to be the 20th guy or so that has gone back to a former team. Home cooking is in the air.
A little misleading much? You couldn’t show Santiago in a Sox uni? I bet if the Yankees signed him, he’d be in pinstripes with a big’ole grin on his face, right?
They usually don’t have a picture on the article if it isn’t a major transaction.
I would still like to see the Sox add a left handed power bat. I’ve heard all the B.S. about saving at bats for the younger guys and prospects, but how many more at bats for example do we need to see Matt Davidson have, before we know what kind of player he is?
As a Sox fan, it is much more interesting to watch a competitive team, than hope for loses to move up a few spots in the draft. There are several reasonable candidates in the affordable free agent market (Cargo, Morrison, Duda) that would be a good fit. Experienced veteran to help the prospects, protection if they trade Avi or Abreu. Somebody to flip later., low current payroll. The bucks are there. No excuses.
cargo one yr deal?
Cargo would be awesome, don’t see it happening though. My thoughts on saving at-bats for the young kids: Part of the excitement of this rebuild, atleast for me, is seeing the next Konerko, Buehrle or Thomas emerge. Signing some veteran player past his prime doesn’t really help the Sox. The sooner the spec’s get promoted, the sooner we find out who can play and who can’t.
I’m for Cargo or Bautista as a DH.
Both good options but would prefer Cargo as a left handed bat in the lineup between Abreu and Avi. Also better fielder. Maybe he takes a one year deal to re-establish his value?
Don’t think he has any choice but to take a one year deal at this point. Nobody is going to commit to multi years for a reasonable salary at this point. Chisox should give him a try though. Matt Davidson certainly isn’t any good.
…and give 600pa’s to guys clearly fading out? That’s the old White Sox. There’s a guy over there with programs…
If they trade Avi or Jose your gonna see a much less competitive team in ’18. I would love to see them bring in LoMo as well. An Avi trade i could stomach but if they dont extend Jose i’ll be pissed. With all the young cuban & latino prospects coming up many of whom idolize Abreu, he can mentor them & teach them how to be a pro. With the amount of OF uncertainity trading Avi for anything less than an Eloy type prospect is a mistake. Genghis Hahn has 1-2 more wow trades/additions he will make b4 season starts
Uh, competitive to do what? They’re a sub .500 team in the midst of a rebuild. Spending big money on declining veteran players for years got them nowhere anyway.
LoMo will sign somewhere for less money & years than he deserves; after last years performance why not bring him in, unless you know of a 1B/DH prospect coming up this yr that can spell Abreu at 1st or Davidson at DH b/c I dont. Signing like that Will make Sox games more fun to watch this summer & games will be more competitive. Not saying theyll compete for the division. These guys are motivated this year & theyll try hard for R.R. , Sox should be fun to watch in 2018 & in 2019 they could compete for AL Central Indians are the only real team
They’re not trading Jose, Avi should be overvalued & sold for 2 top 100 prospects. If anything less keep him to mentor the pupils & pray he manages to keep up that .392 Babip
A nice low cost, low risk acquisition. The Sox need a lefty starter until Rodon returns. Now, we need a lefty bat.
Another pitcher added to my wish list for the Chicago teams. The bonus with Santiago is that the White Sox were able to grab him with a minor league deal. He was a valuable and versatile southpaw with the White Sox to begin his MLB career before they were able to trade him for Adam Eaton in a 3-team deal following the 2013 season. Santiago was not only a productive pitcher with the White Sox but has fared very well against them since leaving the organization, particularly at US Cellular/Guaranteed Rate Field.
I have the utmost confidence in manager Rick Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper in getting Santiago back on track as a valuable member of the White Sox 2018 rotation or as a flexible option in the bullpen, be it as a long man or late inning lefty specialist. Solid move for the South Siders!
Thanks for the insight Aaron. Please save your wealth of knowledge for cubbie posts. Thank you
Funny thing since I get some of the same responses from a few Cub fans as well who insist I’m a White Sox troll.
Btw-Cute nickname, although you got the spelling wrong. It’s just the kind of moniker my daughter might have had back in 5th or 6th grade with her crush on Craig. As I recall, she was also very fond of Magglio Ordonez. Since she was also a Sox and Cub fan like her daddy she might have chosen Dave Martinez as well. lol
Had to keep my moniker 7 total letters/digits, rule of thumb. Just not interested in hearing anything about cubs in these ChiSox posts. Always had the antenna growing up & after school it was either Full House, Family Matters or Flubs game so i prefer to watch baseball even if it was the flubs. Such pathetic offenses back then forced me to watch Urkel. Your not worst commentor by any stretch on this site. You sure give some longwinded responses though ol boy
Bautista is done being any good.
Yes, Joey Bats-less in recent years.
I wouldn’t mind Morrison or Duda